New Delhi

Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said on Sunday that Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar's recent statement about “moving forward” with the three farm laws that were repealed recently was intended to deceive farmers and would also humiliate the Prime Minister.

Tikait has threatened to restart the farmers' agitation if the farm laws are re-introduced by the Centre.

"Narendra Singh Tomar's statement 'moved a step back, will move forward again' is full of deception towards the farmers and humiliating towards the Prime Minister of the nation. BKU condemns such irresponsible statements. Delhi is not far from the farmers anymore," the BKU leader tweeted in Hindi.

Earlier on Saturday, Tomar was quoted as saying: "We brought the farm laws. Some people did not like it. But the government is not disappointed. We moved a step back and we will move forward again because farmers are India's backbone and if the backbone is strengthened, the country will become stronger." However, the minister later clarified that the Centre has no plan to reintroduce farm laws and said that his statement during a programme was misquoted.

The Parliament junked the three farm laws days after a dramatic announcement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 19.

The farmers, who had been protesting on the borders of Delhi against the three laws for almost a year, have suspended their agitation and returned to their homes.